Knock-down paper punch device



Sept. 13, 1955 H. w. MARANO KNOCK-DOWN PAPER PUNCH DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 7, 1952 BY #595527- MMPAWO ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1955 w, MARANO I 2,717,643

KNOCK-DOWN PAPER PUNCH DEVICE Filed Oct. '7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tlc 5; 54

{NEW 11F Hsmss rM /llg gfio llh HI m Kai/lag K 2 ATTORNEY nited States Patent KNOCK-DOWN PAPER PUNCH DEVICE Herbert W. Marano, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Wilson- Jones Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 7, 1952, Serial No. 313,437 6 Claims. (Cl. 16491) The present invention relates to an improved perforating device, and it relates more particularly to an improved manual paper punch employed in forming holes in single or stacked sheets of paper, cards or other items of stationery.

The manually operated paper punches presently available are either flimsy, inadequate devices, the performance of which is at best undependable and ineflicient and the life of which is exceedingly short, or are heavy and complicated devices, hence expensive and unwieldly. The intricacy of these latter devices is principally due to the large number of parts entering into their construction as well as the complexity of these parts. Since a major part of the ultimate cost of a device of this type is due to the cost of assembly, the large number of parts involved and the need for their individual and independent attachment to a common base member in proper aligned relationship results in an expensive device.' Furthermore, in the production of these devices, skilled labor is needed, for otherwise rejects are frequent and practically unfeasible to repair, thus further contributing to their high cost.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved perforating device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved manual paper punch of the type employed in the forming of holes in sheets or stacks of paper, cards or other items of stationery.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved manual paper punch which is dependable, rugged, simple and inexpensive.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved manual paper punch characterized by the small number of parts entering into its fabrication.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved manual paper punch which may be easily and simply assembled without the need of complex tools and jigs by relatively unskilled labor.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of device constructed according to and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan viewwith a portion of the punchings receptacle broken away;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 4 illustrating a stage in the assembly of the device; and

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 1.

The present invention broadly contemplates the provision of an improved perforating device comprising a base member, a die element disposed on said base member and having an opening formed therein, a resilient ice ing leg members and the resilient member has its rear I end fastened to the corresponding end of the base member and is laterally bifurcated to provide a pair of trans' versely extending arm. The actuating handle is roughly U-shaped, having rearwardly extending substantially parallel legs laterally spaced a distance corresponding to that of the arms of the resilient member, each of the legs having a bar member defining a pivot element adjacent its free end. Furthermore, the under face of each of the outer end portions of the handle extends rearwardly and upwardly from a lower handle pivot portion in a direction radially closer to the first upper pivot element. A punch element is supported in depending position adjacent the free end of each of the resilient arms, and corresponding perforated dies are disposed in the base member in alignment with the punch elements. Transverse vertically aligned pairs of slots are formed in the base and the arms of the resilient member posterior to the punch elements and die. Passing through each pair of slots is a locking and bearing member substantially flat in shape having lower shoulders engaging the bottom face of the base and an upper curved, forwardly extending portion having a recess in its lower face defining a bearing surface. The handle and locking elements are so dimensioned and shaped that the handle upper pivot elements engage the locking member bearing surfaces and the handles lowerpivot surfaces engage the upper face of the resilient member bearing punch elements, the resilient member maintaining these parts in locked position and normally'urging the handle upwardly and the punch elements out of registry with the dies. Upon depression of the handle, the lower pivot portion of the handle, with great mechanical advantage, forces the punch elements downwardly into the die openings, the handle swinging about the fulcrum recess in the locking elements. The lower part of the locking members is shaped to engage a removable tray disposed on the under face of the base. An improved paper gauge and other innovations are provided in my device, as will be hereinafter set forth.

Reference is now made to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the numeral 10 generally designates a base member having a platform 11, depending side walls 12 and 13 and outwardly inclined depending front and rear walls 14 and 16 respectively. Projecting inwardly from the lower edges of the side walls 12 and 13 adjacent the corners of the base 10 are ears 17 which support depending rubber feet 18. A pair of laterally spaced circular holes 19 are formed in the platform 11 intermediate the front and rear thereof and surrounded by tapered walls '20 extending upwardly to the platform 11. Extending through each of the holes is a tubular shaped die member 21 having an upper peripheral flange portion 22, the lower face of which abuts the confronting face of the wall and the upper edge of which is coplanar with the upper face of the platform 11.

A resilient member 26 having a pair of laterally spaced arms 27, has its rear end secured to the rear wall 16 by means of rivets 28 and is provided with a peripheral skirt 29 starting and terminating at points forwardly spaced from the rear of the resilient member 26. Depending from each of the arms 27 adjacent the forward end thereof is a cylindrical punch element mating and in ubstantial co'axial alignment with the corresponding die members. In normal unstressed condition, the resilient member 26 supports the punch elements 30 out of registry. with the die members 21. Each of the punch elements 30 has an upper portion 32 of reduced crosssectionwhich engages a corresponding hole in the arms 27 and which is suitably swedged or upset to afford a rigid connection. Formed in each of the arms 27 posterior to the punch elements 30 is a longitudinally extending slot 33. Corresponding slots 34 are formed in the platform 11 in vertical alignment with the slots 33, and said slots 34 are laterally enlarged at their forward end 35. The base 10 is preferably formed of a suitable sheet metal and the material cut away or stamped out to produce the slot 34 is bent upwardly to form guide brackets 36 (see Figure 5).

In order to operate the perforating device manually, there is provided an actuating handle 39 of roughly U-shape having a forward cross arm 49 and rearwardly extending legs 41. The legs 41 are each provided with depending walls 42 which extend rearwardly beyond the ends of the legs 41 and forwardly around the cross arm to join each other. A longitudinal slot 43 is formed in and adjacent the end of each of the legs and is separated from said end by a cross piece 44 defining an upper pivot. The rear portions of the walls 42, as seen particularly in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, are so shaped that their lower edges define cam surfaces or pivot portions 46. The pivot portions 46 are defined by the lines or areas of intersection of the bottom rearmost edges 47 of the walls 42 which edges extend from the pivot portion 46 in directions approaching the upper pivot portions or members 44 and the bottom forwardly extending edges 48 which form an inner angle with the edges 47 of somewhat less than 180.

In order to lock actuating handle 39 in assembled position in the perforating device, and in order to provide bearing surfaces for the pivot portions 44, there is provided a pair of brackets or locking members 50. The brackets 50 are formed of substantially fiat rigid material and each has an elongated base portion 51, a vertical or upright portion 52 and a forwardly extending overhanging portion 53, the upper edge of the overhanging portion 53 and the rear edge of the upright portion 52 forming a continuous smooth curve which extends to the under face of the portion 53. Furthermore, a recessed portion or groove 54 is formed in the under face of the overhanging portion 53, defining a bearing for the pivots 44. The base portion 51 is separated from the upright portion 52 by rearwardly and forwardly extending flat shoulders 56. In assembled condition as seen most clearly in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawing, the locking members 50 register with and extend through the slots 33 and 34 respectively, the shoulders 56 abutting the under face of the platform 11. The pivot bars 44 rest in the recesses 54, being urged and retained therein by the upward pressure of the resilient member 26 bearing against the lower edge 47 of the wall 42 or against the pivot portion 46. The forward end of the overhanging portion 53 engages the slot 43 formed in the actuating handle legs 41.

A pair of resilient fingers 57 defining guide and stripper members are provided with base portions 58 which are suitably fastened to the platform 11 as by rivets, and extend horizontally above the platform 11 from points posterior to the slots 34 to points forward of the die members 21. The fingers 57 have upwardly inclined forward portions 58, and are provided with slots registering with the corresponding punch elements 34) and brackets 50.

In order to facilitate the proper stacking and spacing of the cards or sheets to be punched, there is provided an elongated substantially fiat gauge bar 60 which has suitable markings impressed thereon and terminates in a vertically extending locating member 61. The gauge bar 60 passes through a first horizontal slot formed in the ide Wall 1.? immedia el below the platform 11 and of substantially the same cross section as the gauge bar 60 and through a second slot 63 aligned with the first slot and having an inclined lower edge 64. A gauge bar locking device is provided which includes a fiat L-shaped member 65 having a short leg 66 pivotally connected at its outer end to the under face of the platform 11 and a long leg 67, underlying the gauge bar 60 and projecting through the slot 63 and terminating in a finger portion 68. The leg 67 is provided with a depending detent portion 69 which rides along the inclined edge or cam surface 64. Furthermore, a pair of brackets 70 are formed in the platform 11 midway between the sides thereof and slidably engage and support the guide bar 60. Thus by swinging the locking arm 65 to the left, as viewed in Figure 6 of the drawings, the guide bar 60 is released and may be adjusted to any desired position whereupon the arm 65 is swung to the. right and is wedged between the lower face. of the guide bar 60, and the inclined edge 64 thus locking the guide bar 60 in position.

A rectangular tray. member 71 is provided with side walls, a front wall 72 having a curved lip portion 73 projecting outwardly from its upper edge and a rear wall 74 having a pair of rearwardly projecting lugs 76 disposed below the upper edge of the rear Wall '74 and spaced a distance corresponding to that between the brackets 50. Moreover, each of the brackets 50 has a recess 77 of substantially parallelogram configuration formed therein, the side. edges 78 and 79 of which are inclined downwardly and forwardly whereby the edge 79 defines a supporting ledge, orshoulder. Furthermore, a triangular lug 80. is formed from the platform 11 and is directed downwardly and, slightly rearwardly at a point centrally located and anterior to the die members 21. The lug 80 defines a tray locking member. Thus, the tray 71 may be releasably supported on the under face of they platform 11 by sliding the lugs 76 into the corners of the recesses 77 above the edges 79 and urging the tray against the underface of the platform 11 whereby the curved lip 73. resiliently engages the confronting face of .the lug 30, To facilitate removal of the tray 71, the lip, 73 is provided with a depending finger portion 81. A rectangular recess (not shown) is I formed in the upper edge of the, tray front wall 72 to permit the clearance of the locking member 65.

The assembly of the improved perforating device, by virtue of the small number of individual parts, particularly those not permanently fastened, is extremely rapid and simple and may be performed by unskilled labor. In final assembling of the device, the brackets .50 are passed through the corresponding aligned slots 34 and 33 successively, the shoulders 56 being brought into abutment with the, underface of the platform 11. Thereafter, the handle 39 in the position illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawing, is forced between the curved under surface of the bracket overhanging portion 53 and the confronting face of the resilient member 26, forcing said resilient member downwardly and permitting the handle upper pivots to enter and engage the recesses 43.

The resilient member urges the upper pivots into tight engagement with the recesses 43, retaining them there and thus locking the perforating device in assembled condition. The tray may then be positioned as described earlier.

In employing the improved perforating device, the conventional procedure is employed. The stack of sheets or cards to be punched are suitably positioned under guide strippers 58 by means of the gauge bar 60 and guide member 61, and the handle 39 is forced downwardly. The handle swings about the upper pivots 44, the lower portion of the handle bearing against the resilient member 26 urges it downwardly, forcing the punch elements 30 through the stacked stationery and into registry with the die openings 21, carrying the discs 23 cut from the stationery through these openings into the tray. As the punch elements rise, strippers 58 prevent the paper from rising therebeyond.

It should be pointed out that the various parts of the improved paper punch herein disclosed may be formed of any suitable material, preferably, for the most part, stamped and formed of sheet metal such as steel. Further, it should be noted that by the provision of locking members such as described hereinabove, a pair of coacting elements, one of which is mounted on a resilient member, may be mounted in opposing relationship to operate positively and efficiently, while the mechanism as a whole may be disassembled easily and quickly as desired, for shipping, storage and the like. The invention has been described in respect of a paper punch, but this is merely for illustrative purposes, it being obvious that the structure of my invention has wider application.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A perforating device comprising a base portion having a first aperture formed therein and a die opening located forward of said first aperture, a resilient leaf member having an end thereof permanently affixed t0 the rear of said base and extending forwardly above and in vertically spaced relation to said first aperture and said die opening, said leaf member having a second aperture formed therein in substantially vertical alignment with said first aperture, a punch element depending from said resilient member and normally disposed above said die opening and in axial alignment therewith, a separable locking member having a lower horizontally extending arm releasably engaging the under face of said base member, and a vertically extending bridge extending through said first and second apertures and terminating in a forwardly projecting upper arm, and an actuating handle having a forward portion entrapped between said forwardly projecting upper arm and said resilient member, said handle adapted to urge said punch element into registry with said die opening upon depression of said handle, said resilient member normally urging said handle to its uppermost position and into locked engagement with said upper arm.

2. A perforating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle is provided adjacent its engaged end with a lower cam portion pivotally engaging the upper surface of said resilient member and an upper pivot portion spaced from said cam portion, and said locking member has a forwardly directed overhanging portion formed at its upper end and having a recess formed in its bottomface, said recess engaging said upper pivot portion.

3. A perforating device comprising a base including a substantially horizontal platform, a pair of laterally spaced die members mounted in said platform and having openings formed therein and passing through said platform, said platform having a pair of first apertures formed therein posterior to said die members, an elongated resilient leaf member having one end thereof secured to said base member and the other end elevated above and extending over said platform, a pair of laterally spaced punch elements depending from said resilient member in substantially axial alignment and normally out of registry with said die openings, a secondv pair of apertures formed in said resilient member in vertical alignment with said first apertures, an actuating handle, and a pair of separable locking members passing through said first and second apertures, said locking members releasably engaging the underside of said platform and releasably trapping an end of said actuating handle between said locking members and the upper face of said resilient member.

4. A perforating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said actuating handle abuts said resilient member at points anterior to the points of engagement between said handle and said locking members.

5. A perforating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said locking members are provided with upper for-, wardly extending portions having recesses formed in their bottom faces and said actuating handle is provided with corresponding pivot portions engaging said recesses.

6. A perforating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein there is provided a tray having fowardly extending projections and said locking members have recesses formed in the bottom thereof below said platform adapted to engage said projections and releasably support said tray below said platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 857,888 Morden June 25, 1907 1,097,669 Philip May 26, 1914 2,017,195 Anderson et al Oct. 15, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 171,005 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1921 

